UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Happy Sunday, Optimists,

This will be a very short note.

Thank you again to all those you helped to contribute to our Optimist Trivia Night.  We are pleased to say that we met our financial goal—raising (gross proceeds) just over $11,000.  A full report will be shared with the board on March 14, and then will be given to the full membership.  In the meantime, the Student Interns and Student Optimists will continue to work on thank you notes.

Our intern Anne is working hard at posting photos and information on FaceBook and on the web site on a regular basis.

Our intern Kayla is almost done designing the Easter Egg Hunt flyer and those will be distributed to the elementary schools in the near future.

This week’s meeting will be held on Tuesday evening from 5:00pm-6:00pm at Jessica’s.  Dave will be leading the meeting, and our guest speakers will be UW-W Wheelchair basketball coaches Jeremy “Opie” Lade and Christina Schwab.

“Just keep smiling,” everyone!

With Optimism,

Kim and Angie 🙂

Happy Monday, Optimists!

I know this note is reaching you later than usual.  I hope many of you enjoyed the exciting events of Super Bowl LI.

Here are some Optimist updates for this week:

Our Club meeting is tomorrow at 12:00pm in UC 266 with Josh Duesterbeck from Thrivent Financial serving as our guest speaker.  He has some interesting information regarding ways of partnering with community organizations.

Please see the list of speakers that Dave has shared for the next month:

February 7, 2017, Josh Deusterbach, Thrivent

February 21, 2017, Brenda O’Beirne, Counselor Ed Dept award

February 28, 2017, Jeremy Lade & Christina Schwab, Wheelchair basketball

March 7, 2017, Jan Bilgen, Campus Memory Garden

Jenny is trying to finalize a first-round clothing order for Club members.  She has 13 folks on the list and is planning to place the order very soon so that we have the items here in time for Trivia Night.  If you ordered an item, please bing your money to the Club meeting, or get it to Jenny, Kate or Kim within the next 10 days.

Next week, we do not have a Club meeting.  The board will meet from 5:00pm – 6:00pm at Jessica’s on Wednesday, February 15.  Brandon and Kim will share updates regarding where we are at with the Club Policies project (3 sections will be shared).  It will also be good to touch base on the Easter Egg Hunt, Fishing Derby and the Gyro Stand.  Also, we have had some folks in the community asking about the Optimist/City-Wide Rummage Sale.  We will add this item to agenda to confirm our decision.

Lastly, we could still use some help with Optimist Trivia Night on Friday, February 17.  Please email Lanora or Kim if you are able to volunteer a few hours during the evening.  We have 30 teams signed up and lots of great Silent Auction items.  Our goal is to raise $11,000–and it seems reasonable to reach our goal (based on number of participants and items available).  Now, we just need the helpers!  Please double-check your availability.  Thanks so much!

Late last week was International Optimist Day.  Thank you for all the ways you serve our community as Optimists and engaged citizens.  Your commitment to serving our youth and local/regional community is greatly appreciated.

See many of your soon!

Kim and Angie 🙂

Happy Sunday, Optimists!

We do just have to say–“what a Packer game!”

On to Optimist business.  Please note the following:

1)  We will begin the University semester with our Club meeting on Tuesday at noon in UC 259A.  Catering will be provided, and Artanya Wesley (our new Dean of Students at UW-W) will be out guest speaker.  

2)  Please watch for a survey to be sent out by our Intern Brandon Linholm.  It should take less than two minutes to complete.  The board has approved the survey–which will help us to learn when the best times are to hold meetings for our members.  Please share your feedback.  Your input is important!

3)  We received a check for $1650 from UW-W Athletics for Football Ticket Taking.  Thank you to Frank for coordinating the sign up list and to all members who assisted with taking tickets during our regular season and post season home games.

4)  Trivia Night Planning will be going strong during the remaining 4 1/2 weeks before the event (Friday, February 17).  Our next planning meeting will be this Friday at 11:45am in UC 268.  If you are interested in helping with the planning or in helping to staff the event, please contact Kim or Lanora.

5)  Thank you to Connie Murray for saying “yes” to chairing the Easter Egg Hunt.  Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 8 to welcome kids of all ages, the Easter Bunny and McGruff.  The event will be held at the Whitewater Middle School–rain, snow or shine!

6)  We are sad to say goodbye to Teshona Bennett and Josh Tepps as members.  They have both submitted their resignations.  PLEASE keep inviting potential new members to our meetings.

Thanks so much–and “just keep smiling!”

Kim & Angie 🙂

Happy New Year, Optimists!

We hope you have had happy and healthy holidays!

On Tuesday, January 10 at noon in UC 268 will be our next Board meeting.  There will be no Club meeting.

Our first Club meeting of 2017 will be on Tuesday, January 17 (the first day of classes at the University).  Our guest speaker will be Artanya Wesley (our new Dean of Students at UW-W).  We hope we can have a good turnout at the meeting to greet and learn about Artanya.  We will continue into the new year with a catered meal.

Thanks and. . . just keep smilin’ in 2017!

Kim & Angie 🙂

Hello Optimists,

This weekend saw the Warhawk football team wrap up an undefeated season, which will lead to hosting the playoff games for the next several weeks.  This Saturday, November 19, the Warhawks will host Lakeland College at 12:00pm.  Go Hawks—and thank you ticket takers!  Frank will be sending out updated sign up sheets.

Speaking of sign up sheets, Lanora is coordinating our Breakfast with Santa (BWS) sign up sheet.  We are in need of cooks.  Please check your schedules and see if you are able to assist—even if for a few hours.  I meet with a couple of the Student Optimist executive members tomorrow, and we will be talking about staffing BWS, as well as the Holiday Parade.  Our Club will stuff goodie bags for BWS at our meeting on Tuesday, November 29.

Saturday, November 12, was the kickoff event for Youth Appreciation Week—with seven of us serving as chaperones for the movie “The Secret Lives of Pets.”  There were around 130 participants, and two theaters were opened to excited viewers.  Sue from the Theatres of Whitewater seemed pleased with the attendance, as they were busy with concessions.  Thank you to Ken, Duane, Barb, Chloe, and Ben (Student Optimist) for helping to chaperone.  Angie and I were there to support the event, as well.

Tuesday will bring a large turnout for the Youth Appreciation Luncheon in UC 259 A & B.  We hope you can join us for lunch and to hear the presentations from the various school councils, JOOI Club, and Octagon Club.

Wednesday, November 16, will be the bowling event for kids at Hawk Bowl.  Thank you to Therese, some of our members, and a handful of Student Optimist who will serve as helpers for this annual event.  A report will be shared next week!

Please note that our calendar of events is posted on our Club web site.  We will run updates on a regular basis as new information about speakers and times for future events are confirmed.  Please check your schedules to see if you will be available to participate in caroling at Fairhaven on December 9, our “Gifts with a Meaning” meeting on December 13, or in wrapping gifts for the Food Pantry on December 19.

That’s it for now.  Have a great week!

Always with Optimism,

Kim and Angie

​​“Just Keep Smiling” Optimists!

 Greetings to All,

 Tuesday, October 18 there is a Noon meeting in UC 259A.  Our speaker is Angela Meldonian.  She will be talking about new features in UW-W Dining Services, including the new Food Truck coming to campus.   This is a catered lunch where we will be honoring youths of the month.

 The Student Optimists are preparing for Homecoming next Saturday, October 22.  They are in need of a vehicle and driver to pull their float.  If you are able to assist, please email Kim at adamsk@uww.edu or call at 608.201.2151.

 Tuesday, October 25 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm, Kim and Angie will be hosting a “Spooktacular Halloween Potluck Dinner.”  We are planning to provide the main entrée and beverages.  Please plan on bringing a dish to pass.  Please RSVP by October 22.  (Details are on the attached flyer.)

 Attention Optimist Board Members – Mark Your Calendars: We have a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 19, 5pm-6pm at Jessica’s Restaurant.  As always, we have a full agenda and your voice and support are needed for the conversation.

 Final details for Youth Appreciation Week will follow soon in an email.

 Finally, keep your eyes and ears open for Football Playoff ticket-taking information.  We are hopeful that we will be needed at the gates for post-season play!

 As Coach Kevin Bullis said–thanks for being Optimists in Action!

Enjoy your Week,

 Kim and Angie 🙂

Happy October, Optimists,

Angie and I want to kick off our Week 1 email with a sincere thanks to Dave Haibach for two great years of serving as Club President!

We also echo Dave’s thank you to Rick and Jeanine Fassl for hosting our Installation Celebration this past Monday.  It was a fun evening and a great opportunity to connect with one another while enjoying gyros, and a few other treats.  We also extend our welcome to new members Stephanie, Cort and Chloe!

Tuesday, Oct. 4 will our first club meeting of the new year, and we are excited that Dave has lined up Head Football Coach Kevin Bullis as our program speaker.  We can’t wait to hear about the hopes and highlights of the year for the team–and to learn about Kevin’s take on the nail-biting win over UW-Platteville yesterday!  Please bring your own lunch to this meeting.

Thank you to the board members who were able to attend our planning session on Friday, September 30 at Casual Joe’s.  A “Calendar of Events” was started and a draft budget was presented and voted on by the board members.  Ken and Kate will be providing a few more updates to the board, and then we will present the budget to the general membership for their vote on Tuesday, Oct. 18.  Dues letters will also be sent to club members within the next few weeks.  The board voted to maintain our current dues structure.

Our interns have a long list of projects to work on for our club.  Kate and I meet with them every Monday afternoon.  Expect some updates from Rachel and Brandon at a club meeting in the near future.

Angie and I would like to invite all members and families to attend our Optimist Halloween Social on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm at our home (640 Stonefield Lane, Whitewater).  We had a great time the last two years, and are hoping for a “Spooktacular” time this year.  We will provide the main dish and beverages and ask that those attending bring a dish to pass.

We have included Dave’s email from this past Thursday so that you can review the other good information and dates he shared.  We are still looking for a speaker for Oct. 18, so please let Dave know of any ideas you may have.  He has agreed to coordinate speakers for this new Optimist year.

Thank you to all of you for being an active part of this great organization.

Always with Optimism,

Kim and Angie 🙂

Co-Presidents, 2016-17

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

“Just Keep Smiling!”

Greetings Optimists,

Our next general member meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The meeting will feature “Youth of the Month” with catered lunch at $7 for each club member. Speakers will be Mark Elworthy (New School District Administrator) and Nathan Jaeger (Business Manager) regarding the upcoming Whitewater Unified School District referendum.

 I’ll be bringing a guest/potential new member to our September 20 meeting. Will anyone else bring a guest? Let me know for catering purposes.

Planning for our installation banquet on Monday, September 26, 2016, is progressing. One thing to share/remind everyone who submitted their RSVP, we want the event to be fun and encourage you to wear beach-type attire. It will be a fun evening of celebration of the 2015-16 year and looking forward to the 2016-17 year.

The August 2016 Exec Board minutes have been uploaded to the web site.

The Trivia Night 2016 committee continues to meet regularly.

Current events needing helpers:

Warhawk Football Ticket Taking. There are still a few time slots (two?) needing workers. Check the Google spreadsheet, “2016 Football Ticket Taking,” for the last few remaining slots. Hopefully, you can use the link in the spreadsheet title in the previous sentence to edit the spreadsheet and add you name in the appropriate cells. If you have trouble entering your name, let me know and I’ll help.

*** Do you have a topic you would like to present to the club? Do you know someone who could speak to the club? Job related? Travel related? Sports related? Youth related? Let me know if you, or someone you know, would like to present. See the dates below where we need speakers. ***

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events:

• September 20, 12:00pm, speakers will be Mark Elworthy (New School District Administrator) and Nathan Jaeger (Business Manager) re: the upcoming school district referendum.
• September 24, football ticket taking
• September 26; Installation Banquet hosted by Jeanine and Rick Fassl.
• October 4, 12:00pm, speaker will be Kevin Bullis, Warhawk Football coach.
• October 8 & 22; football ticket taking
• October 11, Exec Board meeting.
• October 18, 12:00pm, speaker TBD.
• October 25, 5:00 pm. Speaker TBD.
• November 1, 12:00pm, speaker TBD
• November 5; Football ticket taking
• November 7, Exec Board meeting. (New date to avoid conflict with the Presidential election on November 8)
• November 15, 12:00pm, UC 259, Youth Appreciation Luncheon.
• November 22, 5:00 pm. Dr. Greg Cook, UW-Whitewater Associate Vice Chancellor.
• November 29, 12 Noon, UC 259A, stuff goody bags for Breakfast with Santa.
• December; Mitten tree, Toys for Kids
• December 3; Breakfast with Santa
• December 6, General member meeting, 12:00pm, speaker TBD
• December 13, Executive Board meeting
• December 20, General member meeting, 12:00pm, speaker TBD

That’s all for tonight. (I better hit the send button before the next power outage!)

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749